title: Basal energy expenditure measured by indirect calorimetry in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Determination of Basal Energy Expenditure (BEE) is essential for planning nutritional therapy in patients with esophageal cancer.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine BEE through indirect calorimetry (IC) in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study involving 30 patients admitted with a diagnosis of SCC who underwent IC before starting cancer therapy. The BEE was evaluated using IC and also estimated by means of the Harris-Benedict Equation (HBE). Nutritional assessment was conducted using anthropometric parameters (body mass index, arm circumference, triceps skinfold thickness, arm muscle circumference, and weight loss), biochemical parameters (albumin, transferrin and C-reactive protein) and tetrapolar bioimpedance to assess body composition (fat free mass). Additionally, lung capacity was measured and clinical staging of the cancer established by the TNM method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean of the BEE for IC and Harris-Benedict Equation were 1421.8 ± 348.2 kcal/day and 1310.6 ± 215.1 kcal/day, respectively. No association was found between BEE measured by IC and clinical staging (p=0.255) or the Tiffeneau Index (p=0.946). There were no significant associations between BEE measured by IC and altered dosages of transferrin, albumin and C-reactive protein (p=0.364, 0.309 and 0.780 respectively). The factors most associated with BEE were BMI and fat free mass.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The BEE of patients with SCC was underestimated when using the HBE, and the result overestimated when incorporating an injury factor with the HBE. Therefore, despite the practical difficulties of implementing IC, its use should be considered.
authors.affiliation: UFRGS.
authors.forename: Camila Beltrame
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Becker Veronese
authors.forename: Léa Teresinha
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Guerra
authors.forename: Shana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Souza Grigolleti
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vargas
authors.forename: André Ricardo
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Pereira da Rosa
authors.forename: Cleber Dario
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Pinto Kruel
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D000886:Anthropometry; D001823:Body Composition; D002153:Calorimetry, Indirect / Q000379:methods*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D018450:Disease Progression; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015596:Nutrition Assessment; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis